League of Women Voters of Michigan
© LWVMI Education Fund
2008
District 12-13
Candidates
were asked to summarize their backgrounds in 75 words and were allotted 75
words to answer each question. If the
candidate did not reply by the required date for publication, the words, “Did
not respond in time for publication” appear under the candidate’s name.
1.
What should the
federal government do, if anything, to ensure that every American has health
coverage? (75 words)
2.
What should be
done, if anything, at the federal level to reduce our use of and dependence on
fossil fuels? (75 words)
3.
What measures
would you support at the federal level that would help our
District 12
Bert Copple,
Republican
Did not respond
in time for publication
Sander Levin, Democrat
Did
not respond in time for publication
John Vico,
Libertarian
My name is John Vico, I am running for the post of Representative in
Congress for the 12Th District in
1. As a Libertarian I feel that the Federal Government
should stay out of the health care business. Health care would be better served
by individuals and at a more local level.
Our current health care is overwhelmed by Corporate
greed, and bureaucratic red tape.
Federal Government could ensure all Americans health care by cutting
wasteful spending. Reduce foreign aid,
and reduce size of government.
2. Fossil fuels
are the most out dated technology we have. This country used to be the leader
in new technology; I know we can be the leader again. The problem is most renewable energy does not
make the profits Corporate wants.
3. To help
We also need to restructure our tax system that would
better serve business private and public, and for the people. More of
Married (wife Sharon) with
two children (Abigail and Amanda); Age 61;
1. Nothing. Any effort to ensure that all people
in this country have health insurance will require that the approximately 30
million uninsured who can pay for some coverage (at lease catastrophic coverage)
to purchase health insurance. This type of mandate is not one of the enumerated
powers of the federal government, and is in fact reserved to the states by the
10th Amendment to the Constitution. Health Insurance Reform is a
state issue.
2. We need to set up a pension style trust fund
for Social Security which Congress can't spend and then fund this trust fund by
transferring the oil and gas properties held by the government. When these
properties are transferred with a legislative mandate to develop the resources
which supersedes all other laws, we will end our dependence on imported oil. The
development of alternative energy sources has already started and will continue
due to the…
3. We need to replace the Income Tax with a 50%
Revenue Tariff on all imports of goods and services. This act will end the
massive outsourcing of our manufacturing base to third world sweat shops in the
name of free trade. Free trade is not free and has cost
William J. Opalicky,
Green
Please call me
Bill. I’m a lifetime
1. Universal single-payer health care is the way
to go. If elected, I’d sign-on to John
Conyers’ HR 676. Most of our elected
federal officials, however, don’t work to serve the people; they’re indentured
to the various industries that have purchased their votes. Private health care providers and the
pharmaceuticals have to be reined in. Can you say, “Graft?”
2. There’s an urgent need to build mass-transit
systems and to develop solar, wind and other types of clean energy. A serious effort at the federal level will
not happen if Big Energy is allowed to call the shots. Nationalize the oil companies! No nukes!
Clean coal is an urban legend!
For some reason I don’t trust T. Boone Pickens, despite those giant
windmills twirling in the background in his infomercials.
3. Our current trade policies have damaged
District 13
Edward J. Gubics,
Republican
Did
not respond in time for publication
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Democrat
Did
not respond in time for publication
Gregory Creswell, Libertarian
Born February 1, 1957;
Chadsey High School (Detroit, MI), Graduated 1975; Attended Wayne County
Community College; Married 1982; We have one (1) son and also one (1) daughter,
both are in College; Employed since July 1975 at the DMC; a Brass
Roots Member; a vocal representative of the petition drive to put the Michigan
Civil Rights Initiative on the ballot in 2006; November 2006 Creswell received
The Libertarian Party of Michigan’s Spokesperson on Liberty Award…
1. No politician can ensure that every American
has health care, but here are my solutions in dealing with the health care
issue. Stop forcing insurance companies to provide coverage, get politicians
and bureaucrats completely out of health care. Repeal the 16Th Amendment;
repeal each federal regulation, such as, fees, permits, licenses associated
with health care. Allow the free market to provide as before, free clinics,
charity hospitals, doctors and nurses to make house calls without…
2. No politician or bureaucrat should have the
power (or control) to reduce (or increase) our use of and dependence on fossil
fuels. It is none of their business. The free market is the best solution,
which also means free trade. Complete freedom from government regulations,
permits, licenses and fees. Repealing the 16Th Amendment, selling off federal
land would allow businesses to find new sites to drill to at least sell it, at
a lower price.
3. I would-if elected-sponsor or co-sponsors
bill repealing all federal man dates, repealing the 16Th Amendment and
immediately returning to MI all, national parks. Also I would sponsor or
co-sponsor a bill repealing 99% of the federal projects within MI, immediately.
And the most important thing is, I would support "Keeping the federal
government out of the affairs of (ALL) states". Federalism must survive.
George L. Corsetti,
Green
I have lived in
1. A majority of the American people, and
fifty-nine percent of physicians in an April 2008 poll, favor single payer or
full government health insurance (as in full Medicare for all) with free choice
of hospital and doctor, private delivery of care, and far less administrative
costs and billing fraud. The health insurance companies would be displaced and
we would all save money. We need to pass
this legislation immediately.
2. We can cut fossil fuels use by: conservation,
encouraged by a well funded publicity program; government investment and tax
incentives for renewable technologies like wind, tidal, solar, geothermal;
increased fuel economy for vehicles; more government investment in mass transit
and railroads; tax incentives for retrofitting homes with renewable
technologies, high efficiency furnaces, insulation, caulking, multi-pane
windows; all funded by a windfall profits tax on oil companies and an end to
war funding.
3.